Flip That Furniture

You can turn almost any hopeless flea market find into a pretty piece of furniture — and maybe make a little extra cash! HGTV Magazine posted the "afters" from their projects on eBay, Etsy and Furnishly. Some sales proved tougher than others. Find out what they learned, and earned (after deducting original costs and materials), and how you too can turn a profit selling your DIY creations. All profits from HGTV Magazine’s sales were donated to AmeriCares, which delivers medicine and aid to people in need.

The Before

This piece was in pretty good shape, except it had some stubborn old stickers on a drawer. Goo Gone was used to remove them, and any nicks were concealed with a wood conditioner (both available at hardware stores). To play up the desk’s midcentury-modern style, the drawer fronts were painted lemon and lime, and satin nickel pulls were added. Original price: $20

The After: Retro Painted Desk

The desk was originally listed at $225, but it didn’t get any bites. The price was dropped to $175 and, voila, it sold on Etsy in six days. Total profit: $115 Paint: From top: June Day and Sassy Green, both by HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams; drawer pulls: Sumner Street 1 1/4" satin nickel symmetry rectangular knobs, $3 each, lowes.com

The Before

After filling nicks and holes with spackling putty, the piece was sanded. Using sample jars of paint — just $5 each — it was given a fresh coat of white around the sides and top, then the shelves were color-blocked with three bright hues. Original price: $12

The After: Color-Block Bookcase

It took almost a month for this bookcase to find a buyer. Once the description was updated, suggesting it would be “perfect for a kid’s or teen’s room,” more inquiries started coming in — and eventually it sold on eBay. Lesson learned: Give potential customers ideas about how to use a piece to draw them in. Total profit: $10 Paint: From top: Cloud Nine (white), Rejuvenate, Exuberant Pink and Gulfstream, all by Sherwin-Williams

The Before

Simple white chairs: There wasn't much more to say about this pair. A modern paint treatment made these traditional chairs feel totally fresh. First, most of the chair was painted a sunny yellow. After it dried, the editors marked 7 inches from the top with painter’s tape, and then painted everything above it gray. Original price: $14

The After: Two-Tone Chairs

Thanks to their cool color-dipped look, these seats flew off eBay in five days. Selling a pair, or a set of four, is a good idea, since people are often on the hunt for more than one kitchen or dining chair. Total profit: $61 Paint: From top: Midnight Blue and Cheerful, both by Benjamin Moore

The Before

The campaign-style drawer pulls and brackets on this chest of drawers were keepers, but the rest needed a major update. After coating the wood in orchid-hued paint, the front drawers were decoupaged with textured paper and coated with a clear sealer. Original price: $40

The After: Patterned Dresser

Willingness to negotiate really paid off on this transaction. The dresser was first listed for $225, but didn’t have many bidders. After a few weeks, the price was dropped to $150 — which led to a bidding war on eBay, and one lucky buyer! Total profit: $125 Paint: Orchid Kiss by Behr; paper: Flocked Aubergine Khazana fine paper, $5 per 22" x 30" sheet, paper-source.com

The Before

A dingy paint finish and missing hardware hid this two-door cabinet’s high style. To bring it out, the outside was painted teal and the inside a slightly lighter shade. Brass ring-shaped pulls were also added to glam it up. Original price: $25

The After: Faux Bamboo Cabinet

This cabinet’s fancy hardware and versatile size made it the most looked-at piece. (All the sites used track product views — very handy for sellers.) Because of its popularity, the price was never dropped, and it sold for the full amount in about a week. Total profit: $99 Paint: Baltic Blue (outside) and Sunwashed Blue (inside), both by Ralph Lauren Paint; pulls: 3" Mission solid brass rings, $13 each, lookintheattic.com

Searching for a new living room look? Before you redesign, consider switching up the room's layout. Take a cue from professional designers and reconfigure the furniture by creating a paper floor plan using a ruler, graph paper and a pencil.